PULAU Semakau serves as Singapore's landfill, but is also home to an array of rare plants and unusual animals.
The second edition of a book featuring the island's flora and fauna was launched by the National Environment Agency on Saturday. Called Habitats In Harmony: The Story Of Semakau Landfill, it features more creatures discovered on the island since the first edition in 2009.
Author Marcus Ng said it was no surprise that so many new species had been found, given the number of surveys carried out by volunteers on the island since 2009.
'What's of interest personally is that the more we learn about the diversity of creatures found at Semakau landfill, the more we realise how little we know about them: their exact identity, ecological roles and habitat needs.'
The second edition of Habitats In Harmony is available at the agency's customer service centre on level two of the Environment Building in Scotts Road. It is priced at $24.90.
-- PHOTO: MARCUS NG
SMALL BUT LOUD: The mangrove whistler is a small, rare coastal bird found mainly in offshore habitats. Its calls sound like explosive whistles and sharp whip cracks.
-- PHOTO: RON YEO
SHY ANIMALS: Mud lobsters are reclusive creatures rarely seen in the open, but easily recognised by the tall, volcano-like mounds they build in the mangrove mud.
-- PHOTO: RIA TAN
UNDER THREAT: The bonduc or grey nicker is a prickly vine that is critically endangered here, and found only at Pulau Semakau, Lazarus Island, Pulau Senang and Punggol.
-- PHOTO: MARCUS NG
HUGE SLUG: The Forskal's sidegill slug is enormous for a sea slug - growing up to 0.3m long. It is common in reef and seagrass areas.
-- PHOTO: ERIC LEONG
COLOURFUL CORAL: Sea fans are large, soft corals that do not need sunlight for energy. They harbour animals like gobies that move among the branches with impunity.
-- PHOTO: JEEMEE GOH
RARE SIGHT: The brilliant red Euretaster insignis is endangered here. This starfish that prefers rocky shores was once common on Labrador Beach, but is now rarely seen.
-- PHOTO: RIA TAN
BIGGEST OTTER: Pulau Semakau is one place where the smooth otter can be seen in the wild here. South-east Asia's largest otter grows up to 1.3m, including its tail.
-- PHOTO: FEDERICK HO
WINGED BEAUTY: This owlfly lives in the grasslands of Pulau Semakau. It looks like a dragonfly with long antennae, but is more closely related to lacewings.